Fitbit Flex Review

Introduction

If you didn’t realize it before, CES 2014 ushered in the proliferation of the wearable fitness tracker, as several big and small companies announced their models that are on schedule for this year. Already having its feet wet in the category, long time fitness tracker maker Fitbit has shown us that it’s a force to reckon in the space. It might not be its newest or highly prized model, but the Fitbit Flex is going to be the company’s main driving force to compete against the horde of models that are expected to come from the competition. It’s been around for some time now, but we suppose it doesn’t hurt to see what all the talk is about.

The package contains:

• Large & small wrist bands
• Wireless sync dongle
• Charging cable
• User’s manual

Design

Being discrete, the design is uncomplicated and blends well.

Before we unwrapped the packaging, our first thoughts about the Fitbit Flex was of it being just a wrist strap that we wear and nothing more. Interestingly, that’s not the case, as the actual component is a peg shaped item that discretely tucks inside of the strap. It’s one solid piece with no visible ports, seams, or openings – essentially giving it a water-resistant property.

Along the top edge of the unit is a translucent dark cover that hides away 5 LED indicator lights that correspond to how well we’re reaching the default goal of 10,000 steps per day. Below that is a touch sensitive area where we tap with our finger to light up the LEDs and place the tracker into sleep mode. With the latter, we’re required to tap it continuously until it vibrates and the LEDs light up in a specific pattern. And finally, towards the bottom are 3 pin connectors that attaches to the proprietary charging cable to replenish its internal battery.

As for the wrist band itself, the main compartment where the fitness tracker is stored in is thicker than your traditional skin hugging wrist strap. Basically, the tight fighting confines of the strap aid its water resistant property. Fortunately, the strap is adjustable, but Fitbit is nice enough to include large and small wrist bands. It has a rubbery feel and there’s an element of personalization because it’s available in a variety of colors – black, slate, pink, lime, navy, tangerine, and teal.

Overall, the wrist band has a solid build quality, comfortable feel, and a stylish element to it. At the core of it all, we really adore that the Fitbit Flex is a discrete thing, as the interaction with it is very minimal. Additionally, it’s one of those things that we “set it and forget it.” From sleeping to taking a shower, we don’t have to worry about it getting damaged or taking it off – so there are no major concerns about losing it.

AT&T LG G Flex Review

Introduction

Note: Before you proceed, please keep in mind that the LG G Flex is still avaiable in select Asian regions only. The sheer fact that LG has come to the US to showcase the smartphone for us, however, can be seen as an indication that a wider availability may be right around the corner.

Flexible displays seem to be the future, something that’s particularly evident as we look at what’s going on with the next-generation of high-definition televisions. Well, it’s also extends into the smartphone kingdom as well, seeing that it’s a good starting point to showcase the new up and coming technology. Some might be skeptical about the advantages that flexible displays will offer, while others are adamant that this is the sure proof way of gaining innovation in the space.

One of the trailblazers right now is Korean based LG, a company that’s been on the cusp of cutting-edge thanks to its flagship device in the LG G2. Now, they’re hoping to get people buzzing about flexible displays, amongst other things, as the LG G Flex comes to the scene packing some new technology that we haven’t seen before. Indeed, it’s a super spec’d “phablet” of sorts, but it’s packing several other notable new features – like its unique concaved curved design, stacked battery technology, and self-healing coating.

Is it different? Absolutely! More importantly though, is whether having all of these new features will translate to offering consumers with a practical smartphone – one that gets the job done.

The package contains:

• Wall charge
• microUSB cable
• Stereo headphones w/additional tips
• SIM removal tool
• Get started guide

Design

If you look at the phone directly from the front or back, you wouldn’t be impressed much by its design, just because we’ve seen it before – the LG G2 to be exact, though bigger in size obviously. Essentially, its size alone places it into the “phablet” category, which makes it rather cumbersome to hold or handle with a single hand. Tilting it to check out its profile, that’s when it hits us – there’s a very distinct curve with its design. Aside from giving it an aesthetic value over other smartphones, the curve in itself proves to provide better ergonomics, such as in the case of holding it against our face for phone calls.

Typical of being an LG-made device, the G Flex is constructed from the same plastics used by other phones in its lineup. It’s a fitting choice to go with, mainly because it’s more pliable than something like metal – allowing the phone to absorb pressure, to the point of making it flat, without causing the case to crack or break. Unlike other plastic constructed phones, though, there’s a self-healing coating on the back cover. Yes, it gives the phone a glossy look, but it’s not as susceptible to fingerprints or smudges. When it does accumulate them, they’re easily wiped away thanks to that self-healing coating.

Frankly, it’s the Wolverine phone. Yes, the beloved character from the X-Men universe, whose mutant power consists of having accelerated healing abilities. Just like the lovable mutant, the G Flex’s self-healing property is very uncanny – uncommon in the smartphone universe. Instead of employing a UV hard coating, the G Flex instead utilizes a soft resin element that allows the phone to fill in scratches that occur through every day wear and tear. However, the self-healing process takes some time to happen, one that’s better achieved under warmer temperatures. In our test, we gave it a surface level scratch with a sharp knife. Plainly visible at first glance, but after a few minutes spent in our pocket, where it absorbs our warm body temperature, the width of the scratch is reduced greatly. However, it’s not entirely eliminated. At certain angles, it looks like the scratch never happened, but at others, it’s still noticeable.

Overall, the design is innovative on many fronts, something that not only catches us for its size and curved shape, but for all the tech that’s involved with its design. First, it’s super durable to withstand being flattened as we sit on a chair – all the while it’s in our back pocket. Secondly, the self-healing properties seem tangible enough to keep it clean looking for those minor incidents. However, we wouldn’t go as far to say that it’ll “heal” very deep scratches. And finally, the curved nature of the handset is very ergonomic – especially when using it for phone calls.

Keeping a close knit tie to LG’s current flagship smartphone, the G2, the G Flex also has its power button and volume controls placed on the back of the phone. Again, most people will find it alien at first, but LG slightly improved the set with this model, as the power button as a more pronounced/raised feel – while these square dots in the volume controls jut out just a tiny bit to also give it a pronounced feel. The power button itself incorporates an LED notification light, which we can customize to display various notifications.

Around its trim, we have the usual assortment of ports – these include the microUSB 3.0 port for charging/data connectivity, various microphones, 3.5mm headset jack, antenna (for use with Korea’s TV service), and microSIM slot. In the rear, LG blesses this phablet with a 13-megapixel auto-focus camera, which is surrounded by its LED flash and IR blaster. With the latter, it transforms the phone into a useful universal remote. Meanwhile, the speakerphone grill is positioned towards the bottom right corner of the rear casing.

sony vs. apple

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact vs Apple iPhone 5s

Introduction

High-end Android smartphones have been successfully competing with the iPhone for quite some time now, but despite their undeniable popularity, there's one ubiquitous differentiating feature that sticks out like a sore thumb – each and every recent Android flagship has tried to target a slightly different audience than the typical iPhone crowd. With their massive screens and excessive focus on hardware prowess, devices like the HTC One, Galaxy S4 and LG G2 have always been cherished by the slightly more geeky part of society. The same goes for Sony's full-size flagship – the Xperia Z1, which is especially imposing with its dimensions.

What could this particular market situation mean? Well, we could read this as a way for Android manufacturers to avoid competing directly with the iPhone, but why haven't they even tried to produce a smaller device with the same powerful hardware that they usually bestow upon their creations? Sure, there are the 'mini' versions of the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, but those phones are significantly weaker than their high-end brethren. Time and time again, we've asked for an Android flagship of great strength and easily-pocketable dimensions, but our requests have remained unanswered. Luckily, here comes Sony with the Xperia Z1 Compact – an ambitious handset of iPhone-like size that not only takes advantage of Sony's beautiful OmniBalance design, but also of the latest and greatest silicon that's available to Android manufacturers. It's a phone that we're extremely excited about, so what better way to say what it's made of than to pit it against the king of compact smartphones itself? Ladies and gents, prepare to witness an epic struggle of compact proportions: Xperia Z1 Compact vs iPhone 5s!

Design

The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact has a great design language, that's actually reminiscent of the iPhone 4/4s. With front and back panels entirely made of glass, held together by a sturdy metal frame, the Z1 Compact looks and feels great. However, the busier design, with numerous port and slot covers, doesn't allow the Z1 Compact to elevate itself to the clean and stylish industrial design of the iPhone 5s. The significantly thinner profile of Apple's handset, as well as its overall cleaner look makes it appear just a bit more premium in the looks department. Anyway, the trade-off isn't really big, and in exchange for a slightly thicker handset, you're getting quite a few niceties with the Z1 Compact, such as a microSD card slot, and easily-accessible SIM card slot, a dedicated camera-shutter key, and, of course, water-resistance!

Not that the Z1 Compact's construction isn't of high quality, but the iPhone 5s is simply unsurpassed in this respect. You can tell that the 5s is going to be the more expensive device just by pressing the physical keys, like the volume rocker and the power key. On the iPhone, these buttons have a nice and clicky feel, while on the Z1 Compact, their movement isn't so well-defined.

In terms of dimensions, the Z1 Compact (5.00 x 2.56 x 0.37 inches) is very close to the iPhone 5s (4.87 x 2.31 x 0.30 inches), although it's a bit wider and, as we said, thicker. The slightly bigger size of the Xperia doesn't make it more uncomfortable to hold or operate with, so users who aren't into big smartphones can rest assured that both devices are almost equally small.

As we said, in addition to the bonus features of the Compact, such as microSD card slot, Sony's handset is also water- and dust-proof (IP58), which is something that the iPhone 5s can't offer. However, Apple's device does feature an excellent fingerprint sensor, which can make your device very secure and easy to unlock (by you) at the same time.

Microsoft Xbox

Microsoft to boost Xbox One GPU performance by making Kinect optional

The Microsoft Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4 have a lot in common when it comes to hardware. In fact, the specs are almost identical, save for the GPU where the PS4 holds the clear advantage. When these consoles were still the “next generation,” it was debatable how much impact that difference would have. Now that the next gen has become the current one, Sony looks to be in a very good place — some of the cross-platform launch titles look better and are running at higher frame rates on the PS4. Microsoft is reportedly swinging into action with a patch to give the Xbox One’s graphics a little boost at the expense of Kinect.
At the heart of both the PS4 and Xbox One is a semi-custom AMD APU. This 28nm part features an 8-core Jaguar CPU and a Radeon 7000-series GPU. The Xbox’s GPU is similar to the Bonaire core from the Radeon HD 7790, an entry-level PC graphics processor. The PS4, meanwhile, is rocking the mid-range Pitcairn core like you’d find in a Radeon HD 7870. Even though the Xbox One GPU is clocked a little higher, it can’t keep up with the PS4 in terms of raw power.
To make matters worse, game developers working on the Xbox One are coding with one hand tied behind their backs. Microsoft requires that all games reserve 10% of the GPU’s capacity for the Kinect, even if the game doesn’t use it. That’s split up into 8% for the Kinect video features and 2% for Kinect voice. In an effort to give a boost to its console, Microsoft is expected to issue a system patch that removes the requirement that games save that 8% for Kinect video.
By reducing the horsepower dedicated to Kinect, Microsoft might be able to realize frame rate improvements immediately after the system is patched. In one recent embarrassment, the frame rate of the new Tomb Raider title was found to be only 30 fps on the Xbox, but 60 fps on the PS4. This is something that an 8% bump in GPU power could help with.
Since frame rate is an average measurement, the Xbox One might only be hitting 20 frames for a short time when heavily taxed, but could shoot up to 40 or 50 fps when there’s less going on. Those times when the frame rate drops will stand out because it gets close to the edge of what our brains perceive as fluid movement. The PS4, way up there at a 60fps average has considerably more breathing room. Even squeezing just 8% more out of the GPU could help the Xbox keep the frame rate out of the danger zone.
This is one of those “every little bit” situations. While an extra 8% of GPU performance isn’t going to bring the Xbox One to parity with the PS4, developers can still do some amazing things with limited resources. Games tend to become more advanced the longer each console generation drags on. If the Xbox is already having issues keeping up with launch titles, Microsoft might be in for a bumpy ride. Pulling a little more GPU power from the Kinect is a smart move, but it’s little more than a stopgap.

MICROSOFT

Microsoft slashes prices on Windows 8.1 tablets, achieves near-parity with Android devices

 

We’ve known since IDF that Intel intended to put pressure behind Bay Trail’s sales volume by aggressively positioning the tablets across both Windows 8.1 and Android, but it seems Microsoft doesn’t want to be left behind — or undercut. The company has made significant slashes to prices on multiple devices in the Microsoft Store — the 32GB Dell Venue Pro has dropped from $299 to $229, while the 32GB Lenovo Miix 2 and Toshiba Encore (also 32GB tablets) have fallen to $249, from $299.
Dropping the Venue Pro to $229 actually puts Microsoft in the unusual position of going head-to-head against the $229 Google Nexus 7 (2013), but offering twice the storage (32GB versus 16GB). While Windows 8 has been roundly chewed up for offering far less than maximum capacity once the OS and restore files are accounted for, the 32GB Dell Venue 8 will still have 4-6GB more practical storage available than the Nexus 7 device.
The tablets themselves are powered by the Intel Bay Trail Z3740D, the same chip inside the Asus TransformerBook T100. While more expensive, the T100 also sports a larger screen (10.1 inches), a removable dock, and up to 64GB storage). Having used it extensively, I can say that the performance of this solution is surprisingly good — it far outstrips Clover Trail, and the integrated GPU is capable of handling many tablet games.
No, the Venue Pro 8 doesn’t have the Nexus 7′s 1920×1080 screen, but the 8.1-inch display on the Venue Pro still hits a PPI of 186. That’s higher than a conventional desktop monitor, even if it isn’t quite “Retina” quality (though as always, that’s a relative term and depends on viewing distance).

Microsoft is clearly trying to boost the visibility of its own Store (it’s selling the Dell Venue 8 Pro for a lower price than Dell itself). Still, this move also aligns with some of Intel’s priorities. The chip manufacturer has stated that its goal is to dramatically drive new tablet adoptions in 2014 with strong offerings in both the Windows 8 and Android ecosystems. If prices like this stick around, we’ll see Windows selling at head-to-head parity with Android throughout the year, at least at the upper end.
Whether this will finally spark adoption of x86 and Windows devices in the tablet space is an open question, but I think the path is clearer for Intel than Microsoft. If Intel can build equal-players for both products, OEMs will adopt a certain volume of x86 hardware, and customers who see equivalent battery life and performance won’t necessarily care either way. Intel’s own marketing funds go a long way towards helping that outcome. Microsoft, in contrast, still has to build support for its own anemic ecosystem — an altogether trickier proposition for a company still playing catch-up 15 months after its next-generation operating system was released. But Bay Trail really is a much better tablet chip than what we’ve seen in previous generations

LAPTOPS

Best laptops for engineers: When work requires a real workstation

Along with gamers, engineers pose one of the toughest design challenges for laptop makers. Engineering applications crave memory, graphics horsepower, and large screens — all hurdles in designing stylish, lightweight laptops. The result is a necessary tradeoff between performance and convenience. While not every engineer will make the same compromises, there are a few laptops that stand out for use by engineers, depending on their specific needs.

So what is the best laptop for an engineer? Here are a few great options, one of which will get the job done for you.

Lenovo ThinkPad W540

For those used to lugging a typical portable workstation “brick” the new Lenovo ThinkPad W540 may be a breath of fresh air. While not lightweight compared to a business laptop, at just under 5.5 pounds and just over an inch thick, it is not much larger than a MacBook Pro. Under the hood it can be configured with a variety of 4th generation (Haswell) Core i7 processors — ranging up to the 4930MX capable of 3GHz (3.9GHz  Turbo). It can also be stuffed full with up to 32GB of RAM and a 2880×1620 high resolution display. As befits a laptop designed for heavy-duty graphics, it features an Nvidia Quadro K1100 or K2100 discrete GPU.
Oddly for a Windows machine, the W540 doesn’t offer an HDMI or Displayport video output, opting instead for VGA and Thunderbolt ports. That may be a turnoff for those who don’t want to invest the extra time and effort in Thunderbolt peripherals. However, for those who need the ultimate in expansion capability, and want Thunderbolt’s high-speed 10Gbps transfer rate, it may be just the thing. For everyone else, fortunately, the W540 offers plenty of USB ports (2x USB3.0 and 2x USB 2.0). Automatic switching between integrated and discrete graphics helps the W540 claim a more-than-respectable 6+ hours of battery life (users are reporting around five hours).
As befits a ThinkPad, it comes with Intel’s vPro and a fingerprint reader. The system ships with Windows 7 Pro, so for Windows 8 haters, there’s no need to fret. However, if you want the latest version of Windows you’ll need to upgrade it on your own. W540 pricing starts at $1600 for an entry-level model with a 2.4GHz (3.4GHz Turbo) i7-4700MQ CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 500GB hard drive.

HP ZBook 15 and 17 Mobile Workstations

Having made its reputation selling to engineers, HP is a natural when it comes to shopping for a portable workstation-class laptop. If accurate color and rugged construction are high on your list of requirements, the HP ZBook 15 with 15-inch display (or the larger and heavier 17-inch version the ZBook 17) will fit the bill. The tradeoff is a slightly heavier and larger machine (6.2 pounds for the 15-inch version) than the similar ThinkPad W540, even though specs are similar. The ZBooks also don’t offer the ultra-high-resolution display of the ThinkPad W540, but their 1080p displays are top notch and feature HP’s DreamColor technology.
Thunderbolt is also a feature on these models, allowing the connection of up to four displays. Unlike the ThinkPad, it also has a Displayport in addition to a VGA port. It also includes vPro and a fingerprint reader, along with a docking station connector on its underside. CPU options range up to the Core i7-4900MQ, clocked at up to 2.8GHz (3.8GHz Turbo), and it can be ordered with either Windows 7 Pro or Windows 8 Pro. Reviewers loved almost everything about the machine, except for its sub-four-hour battery life. The HP ZBook 15 is priced starting at $1650.

Dell Precision M3800 or XPS 15 Touch

While Dell’s flagship Precision M4800 goes head to head with beefy models like the ThinkPad W540 and ZBook 15, I’m focusing here on the new, lighter Precision M3800. The M3800 promises workstation power in a svelte 0.71-inch, 4.15-pound package. It has many of the newest bells and whistles, including an option for a QHD+ display, fourth-generation Core i7, Nvidia Quadro discrete graphics, and an mSATA slot to go along with its spinning hard drive.

Gorilla Glass covers the multi-touch screen — it’s still a bit of a novelty in the mobile workstation category, but valuable if you order the machine with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. The option for dual SSDs allows for maximum performance if you put them in a RAID0 configuration or allocate your swap and temp drives carefully. Like the other machines we’ve looked at here, Nvidia’s Optimus technology provides automatic switching between integrated and the discrete Quadro graphics. The M3800 is priced starting at around $2000. For those who don’t need the Quadro graphics and dual drives, the new Haswell-equipped Dell XPS 15 has almost identical specs otherwise.

Oppo N1 CyanogenMod edition review: Pure mind

Introduction

Trying out new things is in Oppo's DNA. The Find 5 was a clue, the N1 is the hard evidence, that the up and coming Chinese maker will never miss an opportunity to surprise and try to amaze. You know who else has a different perspective on things? CyanogenMod developers. So what happens when you put the two together? You know the answer to that one - a real challenger to the Nexus. But let's not jump the gun, shall we?

Oppo N1 CyanogenMod official photos
The CyanogenMod initiative has been around for ages in tech chronology, but until very recently nobody even considered getting the custom Android ROM on mass-produced phones. At least not until Cyanogen was set up as a proper company with a vision of the future and a dedicated staff to fulfill it - not just a bunch of enthusiasts writing code for the devices they own.
CyanogenMod is based on stock Android and builds on it with features and ideas contributed by the community. It's the end user that matters, not the top brass, who more often than not have their own agendas.
Oppo and Cyanogen are a match made in heaven for everyone who wants their droid to feel truly different - in terms of both hardware and software. The custom OS was originally offered on a limited edition of the Oppo N1 but the ROM is now readily available and promising better performance, prolonged battery life and a slew of extra features on top of the pure Android look.
What's more to ask? Check out the full set of features below.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support; penta-band 3G with HSPA
• 5.9" 16M-color 1080p Super IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen with 373ppi
• Android OS v4.3 Jelly Bean with CyanogenMod 10.2; Android 4.4 KitKat is on its way with a CyanogenMod 11 update
• Quad-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300 CPU, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 320 GPU; Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset
• 13 MP autofocus camera, 206° module rotation; dual-LED flash; HDR, long exposure (up to 8 seconds), remote shutter
• 1080p video recording @ 30fps with HDR mode, continuous autofocus and stereo sound
• Touchpad on the back
• Dual-band Wi-Fi ac/a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA; Wireless TV-out (Miracast)
• GPS with A-GPS
• 16GB/32GB of built-in storage
• microUSB 2.0 port, USB on the go support
• Bluetooth v4.0
• NFC
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• 3610 mAh battery
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
• Premium aluminum and polycarbonate finish
• O-Click Bluetooth Remote Control in the package

Main disadvantages

• Non expandable storage
• No LTE
• Non user-replaceable battery
• Hefty and big device, near impossible to operate single-handedly
• Snapdragon 600 is no longer flagship-grade

On the outside, the Oppo N1 running CyanogenMod is the same device. There are no special marks to differentiate it from its ColorOS-running sibling, neither are there any novelties about the hardware inside. The N1 with CyanogenMod is powered by the same Snapdragon 600 chipset, which while no longer Qualcomm's top dog, is by no means lacking in power.
Oh well, similarities with Nexus devices aren't purely coincidental, then. They didn't use to have the most powerful processing and graphics either - they simply delivered the pure, bloat-free experience certain users value above all else. The CyanogenMod-ded Oppo N1 builds on that with some unique features like the 13MP rotating camera module, rear touchpad and the impressive battery inside.

CyanogenMod Oppo N1 at HQ

First leaked pictures of Windows Phone 8.1 notification center

It's no secret Microsoft is working on the Windows Phone 8.1 update that is supposed to bring notification center and intelligent voice assistant among other features. We've heard rumors and seen lots of alleged shots before, but today we finally get a glimpse of the real deal.
The leaked photos show the settings of the upcoming notification center and are from an early test build of the WP 8.1

As you can see you can assign four quick toggles (Cellular data, Brightness, Wi-Fi, Airplane mode are the ones on the shot). There is also a checkbox for access the notification center from the lockscreen. Then there are the notification services you want to enable - emails, messages, etc.
It seems Microsoft is going to put everything the modern droids have in the notification center, instead of bringing it feature by feature as some of the competitors did.
Windows Phone 8.1 is expected to be unveiled at the annual BUILD conference in April and released soon after on all WP8-running devices

Samsung Galaxy s5

Photo presumably taken with a Samsung Galaxy S5 surfaces

Okay, we know that the following rumors might sound strange and hard to believe, but the image below, presumably of someone's finger covering the camera's lens, could have been taken with a Samsung Galaxy S5. The mysterious photo has been posted online some 20 days ago via Flipboard, an app that Samsung's recent Android phones come with out of the box, by a user called @123fliptest. Obviously, we're not being treated to a photographic masterpiece, but that's not of any importance right now. What's really interesting is that the image has been taken with a Samsung device model SM-G900-V, according to the embedded EXIF data. Allow us to remind you that the Samsung SM-G900 and its variations are believed to be different versions of the yet-to-be-announced Samsung Galaxy S5, and the G900-V is supposedly the model bound for Verizon. 

Photo allegedly taken with a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5

Digging further into the photo's EXIF data shows that the original image has a resolution of 5312 by 2988 pixels, which suggests that the Samsung Galaxy S5 could come with a 16MP camera. However, note that the image has been captured at an aspect ratio of 16:9, which might not be the native aspect ratio of the phone's camera sensor. Therefore, assuming that the Galaxy S5 could actually be equipped with a standard 4:3 sensor, then the actual resolution of the phone's camera could be about 21MP. 

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is expected to be announced in February or March of this year, and that's when we'll learn whether or not the highly-anticipated device is masked behind the aforementioned model number. If that's the phone you're looking forward to, you might want to check out our Samsung Galaxy S5 rumor round-up.

source: @123fliptest via @evleaks

 

FUTURE TAB

FUTURE TECH

Chrome

Chrome apps for Android and iOS get closer with new developer tools

Back in September, Google confirmed that it was planning to bring Chrome apps to mobile platforms. Early in December, Google said that we might see Chrome apps hitting Android and iOS as soon as January. Today, Google finally released the developer tools needed to make good on those promises, although with only a few days left in January, we're not sure it'll quite make it.

The toolchain that Google has released is an "early developer preview", but it should allow developers to easily port their Chrome apps to mobile by essentially wrapping the Chrome apps in a native shell wrapper using Apache Cordova. And, to make apps feel more native, Google has also ported certain Chrome APIs like push messaging, OAuth2 identification signin, storage access, and more. Not surprisingly, there are a couple extra APIs available for Android porting including rich notifications and in-app payments. 

Google's plan is to allow developers to release Chrome apps through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and have them run just like native apps. We don't have a lot of info on how it will all work, but we expect some cloud syncing to be involved since these are Chrome apps after all. 

source: Chromium Blog via The Verge

 

Apple chipset

Apple's A8 may integrate DRAM into the chipset

The next round of Apple devices isn't expected to hit the market until September, but that means Apple has to finish up designing the chip and sorting out the orders for the companies that will produce and package the chips. A new report makes it sound like Apple may be attempting to bring the upcoming A8 closer to being a true "system-on-a-chip" (SoC).

The A7 SoC included the CPU, GPU, cache, image processor, and "secure enclave" to store TouchID data, and moved the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass processing to the M7 motion coprocessor. Presumably, there will be an M8 motion coprocessor, but word has it that in addition to everything you'd find on the A7, the A8 will also include the DRAM for the device. 

The same report from DigiTimes says that Apple has chosen Amkor Technology and STATS ChipPAC to each package 40% of the A8 orders with Advanced Semiconductor Engineering taking the last 20% of the packaging orders. Interestingly, the report closes by saying that "TSMC reportedly will start ramping up production using 20nm process technology for Apple's A8 chip in the second quarter of 2014." The interesting thing there is that the wording doesn't say that the A8 will begin production in Q2, but that TSMC will ramp up production using the same 20nm process. That could just be odd wording from DigiTimes, because it would make sense that the A8 ramps up production in Q2 so the devices can be built in time for a late Q3 release. 

source: DigiTimes

 

LG Nexus 5 review

Introduction

Nexus phone releases are timed to let Google have the last word - and what a way to have it! A phone that matches any flagship on specs and premieres the latest OS version, but costs barely half as much as some of them. The Nexus 5 promises a great finale to yet another exciting smartphone season and it's not only the droids that stand to attention.
This could have been a deja-vu moment for everybody but the fifth gen Google phone will probably have to work harder than ever. There's already a bunch of Snapdragon-800-powered Android flagships, while Qualcomm's latest is ticking inside Windows Phone-powered devices by Nokia too and Apple has the new 64-bit A7 chipset.
On a second thought, Nexus phones have never been too keen on getting into the skirmish, keeping their distance, aloof and somewhat out of touch, nothing to prove to anyone. The best of Google on your homescreen - that's what it's all about - and at a price that's almost too good to be true.

Nexus 5 official photos
The search giant is partnering with LG for a second year in a row. Whether the Koreans are offering the best production cost or both sides were happy with the Nexus 4, it's a choice we don't mind at all. Anyway, Android 4.4 KitKat on a five-inch full-HD screen, powered by a Snapdragon 800 is a package no one would say not to.
Check out the key specs to see what we're on about.

Key features

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE support
• Penta-band 3G with HSPA; LTE cat3
• 4.95" 16M-color 1080p True HD IPS Plus FullHD capacitive touchscreen
• Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display protection
• Android OS v4.4 KitKat
• Quad-core 2.3 GHz Krait 400 CPU, 2 GB RAM, Adreno 330 GPU, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chipset
• 8MP autofocus camera with LED flash, geotagging, optical image stabilization, photo sphere, 1080p video recording @ 30fps with continuous autofocus and stereo sound; HDR mode, Dual recording, optical image stabilization
• 1.3 MP front-facing camera
• 16GB/32GB of built-in storage
• microUSB port, USB host support, USB on-the-go, SlimPort TV-out
• Bluetooth v4.0
• NFC
• Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct and DLNA
• GPS with A-GPS, GLONASS
• Standard 3.5 mm audio jack
• Voice commands
• Accelerometer and proximity sensor
• Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic
• 2300mAh Li-Po battery, wireless charging

Main disadvantages

• Non-expandable storage
• Poor video and audio codec support out of the box
• Non user-replaceable battery
• Comparatively poor battery life (except for calls)
• Loudspeaker is on the quiet side
• Limited availability at launch

Although there's almost no physical resemblance to back it up, the Nexus 5 is based on the LG G2 and that's not a coincidence. The Nexus 4 last year was based on the Optimus G, so history's clearly repeating itself. At least as far as what's under the hood.
Otherwise, the Nexus 5 has one of the most understated exterior designs a flagship smartphone has ever had. It's not an attention-grabber like the iPhone 5s, the HTC One or the Xperia Z1, as if wanting to underline that what matters is inside.

Google Nexus 5 live photos
The latest major release of Android as usual premieres on a new Nexus phone. The Nexus 5 runs Android 4.4 KitKat, which brings even tighter OS integration with Google services. There are a number of other improvements and hints at what's to come. But before we get to that, we'll focus on the Nexus 5's build and finish. The Android 4.4. KitKat overview will follow right after, so without further ado, see you after the break.

Samsung announces devices with 4K displays are on the way

The Mobile World Conference is fast approaching, and Samsung has some titillating news about the displays on their future devices.

 

The Korean Manufacturer mentioned that they’re preparing a smartphone with a QHD AMOLED screen (2560 x 1440 resolution). Some believe that this will be the display on the Galaxy S5, but it’s all speculation at this point. Their other announcement is what’s really intriguing, however.
Samsung also announced that they are working on outfitting future smartphone models with UHD (4K) displays. This means that we could be seeing cell phone screens with a whopping 3480 x 2160 resolution from Uncle Sammie.
There’s no need to get too excited too quickly, however, as 4K screens are a ways off. Samsung just recently released 4K television sets, so it’s a little premature to think that this technology will be made available on their smartphones soon, but it is still an exciting promise to look forward to. Samsung will most likely reveal more information at MWC, which begins on February 24th.
In non-cell phone related news, Samsung also announced that they will be releasing AMOLED television sets with UHD SHD resolutions (7680 x 4320).
Samsung’s definitely upping their game when it comes to displays, anybody here excited to have a 4K phone?